After struggling back in forth in a losing PR battle with an indie developer, G2A is now enacting new rules for its marketplace that will protect developers in the future. The change came after developer TinyBuild said $450,000 worth of stolen game keys were sold in a short time on G2A's platform and then charged back directly to the developer. Initially, G2A denied any responsibility, but now it seems they are attempting to make amends. Polygon managed to get the scoop on the changes, which you can find below...
Royalties on Third-party Auctions: Developers may apply a royalty of up to 10 percent for any of their products sold on the G2A marketplace, which provides a way for developers to monetize third-party transactions.Priority Placement: Developer-managed auctions will be listed first, above third-party sellers, to provide more visibility and transparency. Developers will also be able to create their own custom storefront featuring all of their products and promotions.Chargeback Protection: G2A offers G2A Pay with free integration to developers as a protection on their own websites to mitigate their risk factors (especially beneficial for small developers, beginners and those who feel that their security systems are not sufficient).Dedicated Database Access: Developers will have access to our database information to verify sales, volume and timing to track the lifecycle of every key and identify illegal practices.Dedicated Account Managers: We’re expanding our dedicated account manager model to support developers and to resolve any question or issue, especially those related to security concerns.Developer Funding Option: Many gamers wish to support their favorite developers. For the first time, they will be able to contribute funds directly through an additional button on the developer’s product page.Expansive Global Access: Multi-language translation program expands exposure for developers to our 10 million global customers who are eager for new games from Indie developers.
It's not completely what Tinybuild was demanding when they sent a mass email to press (us included), but it's a step in the right direction. G2A has always been a bit greasy, so at least they can take the victory in making them just a bit more accountable!
